Monday, 17 September 2012

Review ~ Ash by James Herbert

Comraich Castle, a reclusive fortress
on the west coast of Scotland provides the setting for this rather disturbing
novel, featuring the enigmatic ghost hunter and parapsychologist, David Ash. When
sinister paranormal events start to disturb the equilibrium of this unusual
sanctuary, there is no one more suited to the task than this ghost hunter
extraordinaire, but the dark forces which hang like a miasma over the
inhabitants of the castle, soon start to take centre stage.

The book starts off a little slowly;
there is a gradual introduction to the major characters and an opportunity to
get to know the castle and its surroundings, before unrelenting horror is
unleashed. As always, David Ash is an interesting protagonist, he’s as deeply
flawed as ever, but no less brilliant because of it, and his ability to deal
with terrible events, makes for compelling reading. The slow build up of terror
is well done, and as you read, almost without realising, you start to look into
shadows before you turn off the bedroom light!

I always want to read a JamesHerbert book with my eyes closed, which I know makes no sense, but as I turn
the pages, sometimes I’m just a little too frightened to find out what’s happening.
Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable, fascinating, and downright creepy story,
probably best read in the cold light of day before the creeping shadows of
night begin to fall.....

Ashcomes in at a
whopping 690 pages, but believe me once the story gets under way, you won’t
want to put the book down...

My thanks to Katie James at Pan Macmillan for a review copy of this book.